Newton Abbot memories
Here are memories of Newton Abbot and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Newton Abbot or a Newton Abbot photo.
Haccombe House
I live at Haccombe House now and would love to know more infomation on its past. If more photos are available that would be great as we have them up around the House!
New
This is where I live in a road called Windsor Close, built around 1995. Views are amazing but it could do with more countryside as it was in past times, as shown here.
Newton Abbot, Haccombe House 1890
My mother lived at Haccombe House and worked for Lord & Lady Carew from the age of 13yrs. in 1914 until about 1930. The Carew family had other residences in London, Highcliffe (Bournemouth), and South Brent. Their staff (servants) moved around with them during the different seasons.
Haccombe House was owned by the Carew family for many years, there is still a Lord Carew in the House of Lords.
Probably the reason why in the 1881 census there were only 4 people entered is that the family were residing at one of their other residences at that time.
My mother and all the servants were required to attend two services at the estate church every Sunday. In the 1950s the Rev. Keble Martin was the Arch Priest of the estate church which I believe was called St. Blasius. In the 1950s he designed the famous flora & fauna postage stamps, and I was baptised by him in 1937.
Wolborough Church
My paternal grandparents, William Harris and Millie Bray were married here 30th July 1921
No idea why they chose this church, although beautiful, they were living in Garston Avenue at the time and there are several churches closer than Wolborough
Family Ties
I am at present looking into my family history and have discovered today that my maternal grandmother Mrs Beatrice Maud White was married in this church on the 3rd July 1920.
I have not been to the church before but on my next visit to Newton Abbot I shall certainly give it a visit.
Elizabeth Brown Plymouth.
Whyte Family
I am researching family history and have established that the wife of my 2nd Great-Grand Uncle lived at Haccombe House in 1881. His name was James Richard Whyte, he married Janet Bogle in 1874. she was his second wife, his first wife died in 1870. He was aged 71 when he died in 1880. On the 1881 census there are only 4 people shown as having lived there at the time, Janet Whyte (nee Bogle), a cook, a servant and a coachman. I understand he was a Vicar when he lived in Cornwall, which is shown on the 1871 census. Please contact me via this site if anyone has any information on this family and house.
Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers Outside Austins in Newton Abbot
I had never been to Newton Abbot until today but the excuse for my visit this afternoon was an invitation to bring my accordian and play some music for the lovely Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers.
First we tucked into a healthy lunch and coffee at the nearby veggie restaurant called Country Tables and then having packed away some calories we put on an hour long display of vigorous dancing on the pedestrian precinct outside Austins department store - right opposite the former Globe Hotel in this 1906 street view.
People stopped to watch, take photographs and ask questions which we were pleased to answer as a way of attracting new dancers and musicians. The team's attractive kit of blue skirts with coloured ribbons, black waistcoats and shiny clogs soon drew lots of friendly comments including the local police who applauded at the end of a dance! The sun shone and it was a really enjoyable first visit to Newton Abbot.
The Union Hotel
My name is Jane Anne Simmonds (nee Hyde). I was born in Newton Abbot on 31st March 1956. My grandfather Herbert Hyde had retired as a Wing Commander in the airforce and was managing the Union Hotel. My brother John Hyde was born in the rooms above this hotel on 8th September 1954. I was born in a house at the bottom of Powderham Road. I have fond memories of my mother taking me and my brother John to Courtenay Park. We later moved to Moorland View and my father used to ferry all the kids in the street on his motorbike & sidecar to Penn Inn for a paddle in the pool. I used to love going to the newton Abbot cinema on a Saturday (cost sixpence at the time) and sitting out on the edge of the River Lemon afterwards. I also remember a bakery with a big bun over the door and often wonder if it is still there. Mum would buy us an... Read more
Police Constable John Baker
My great grandfather lived at 49 Chapel Hill, Highweek, Newton Abbot. He was 39 then and he had a wife called Susan and 6 children. He was a policeman in Highweek and I am trying to find out more about him and his mother and father, his children were Mary Ann, Susan Ann, William, Samuel, Elizabeth M and John Henry who was my grandfather, he I know joined the 1st Life Guards in Windsor but I am trying to find where he is laid to rest, I have a photo of the grave and in the photo you can see a church and I'm sure it's in Newton Abbot. I am now stuck, all I know is that he was born in Lewtrenchard and then moved to Chapel Hill, Hardweek. He was born in 1842 and my grandfather was born in Hardweek in 1871, my dad was born in 1900, Cecil Harold Greenslade Baker, he was born in Windsor. If any one has any info about the police in Hardweek... Read more
Stilings Pharmacy Courtenay Street
I have just bought a print of Frith's postcard of Courtney Street in 1955 and am delighted to see the premises named "Stilings Pharmacy" on the right of the picture. My father ran this business for the Misses Stiling who inherited it from their father and he was there during the 1930's and 1940's. The shop is now part of Austins department store. It must have been a difficult building to incorporate, because the entrance featured steps up into the shop, whereas the building next door was at ground level. The Misses Stiling all lived in Kingsteinton I believe. I did meet a doctor who remembered them as private patients - ironical that although their business delivered NHS prescriptions they maintained their own health. Very wise!
My father would probably still recognise Courtney Street although it is now pedestrianised. The porte-cochere entrance to The Globe opposite is still there although now also part of Austins Department Store. He travelled daily to work from Torquay, originally from Chelston and latterly from... Read more
Memories of Devon
The Chudleigh Family
I am trying to research the Chudleigh Family. This is my mother's family. I would be grateful for any information.
Heather And Gorse Clog Morris Dance at Rixey Park
Among the attractions at this year's annual Rixey Park Tractor Rally were the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers and their band - a local dance team based at Combeinteignhead.
For days beforehand the weather had been absolutely atrocious so the venue at Bellmarsh Meadows, on the Chudleigh Road, between Kingsteignton and Chudleigh Knighton, was absolutely sodden and truly muddy! We had been warned about this so made sure we arrived with our wellington boots.
Fortunately the organisers placed some boards in the centre of the arena so there was a small area of firm ground for dancing! I think this is the only tme in my entire life that I have played my piano accordian in public wearling my wellies!!
All around us were some of the finest examples of classic farming machinery, mainly tractors, but also horticultural machinery, stationary engines, classic cars and motorcycles. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of Massey Ferguson, the agricultural machinery manufacturer, so there were special displays... Read more
Dornafield Midsummer Promenade
Totnes Rotary Club invited Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers to entertain at the Dornafield Midsummer Promenade along with other peformers. The weather was dry and cool for a mid-June evening and just right for some vigorous dancing!
Refreshments were available in the open air bar on this lovely caravan and camp site. A large crowd of holidaymakers and evening visitors made it a succesful charity fundraising event. The dancers rounded off their performance by inviting the audience to join in a massed processional dance which was great fun for the fifty or sixty who accepted the challenge!
Childhood Days
I lived in Kingskerswell as a young child and emigrated to Australia in 1986. I was 10yrs.
I missed it dearly and have fond memories although I forget the names of streets etc. I went to the local Primary school both old and new. I played conkers with my friends where the trees were opposite the church on bonfire night. We had days off school when it snowed heavily and tobogganed down my street (Park Rd) on my mum's catering trays. We went for adventures up the Kerswell downs and the boys told us scary stories and ran away. We played hide and seek and kiss chasey at the playing fields with Justin Harrison (my first kiss). After school we often went to a little tuck shop down a little lane on the left just down from the old primary school or if I was lucky and Mum picked me up we would go to the bakery and I would have a jam tart or slush puppy from the post... Read more
South Devon
I lived in Kingskerswell from August 1963 to July 1974, first in Lyndhurst Avenue and then in Weavers Way.
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